Mini Tours Scotland

Typically, my husband, Frank, and I are independent travelers. However, after his stroke five years ago it became necessary to modify our habits.

Ready for a return visit to Scotland, we made use of frequent-flyer miles and Hilton HHonors points and had a pleasant 3-night stay at the Caledonian Hilton (£209 [near $340] single or £279 double up to £959 suite) in Edinburgh. This hotel is becoming a Waldorf Astoria and renovations are under way.

Our trip really began when Craig Flynn of Mini Tours Scotland (13 Octavia Terrace, Greenock, Scotland, PA16 7SP; phone, from the US, 011 44 1475 711 678) picked us up at the hotel for a 5-day personal tour, May 26-31, 2012. We went from Edinburgh to Fort William, the Isles of Skye, Lewis & Harris and Inverness, with a dropoff in Glasgow.

I had contacted Craig 10 months before, after I found space at the Hilton with points. We found him mentioned on Tripadvisor.com and corresponded by e-mail. He made all of our trip arrangements.

We requested small hotels, with en suite bathrooms, in the £70-per-person range and with a restaurant on site or nearby. All of our accommodations — character hotels that were a bit quirky — were fine and included breakfast. One hotel had no elevator; if one is needed, let Craig know.

From the minute we met Craig, we felt comfortable. He is the rare individual who can share knowledge of not only history but geology, current events and flora and fauna, dispensing this information with sincere interest.

We saw palaces and castles, seasides, geological wonders, blackhouses, peat harvesting, and standing stones older than Stonehenge.

Originally, we were a party of three, but my mother was called away for a family emergency. Not including lunches and dinners, our cost for three, including hotels, car, gas, ferry rides and guide, was approximately $4,900. We paid a supplement of 3% to pay by PayPal.

Craig was very respectful and gave us personal space at lunch. Before dropping us off each evening, he showed us points of interest near our hotel and made restaurant suggestions.

He is an excellent driver and has a comfortable, 8-passenger van. He offers tours in Ireland, England and Scotland. I recommend him most highly. His tours relieve all stress.

Questions? Please feel free to contact me via e-mail c/o ITN.

PATRICIA CONWAY